Gators' Jeff Demps is candidate for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award

Senior RB Jeff Demps has been named a candidate for the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School(r), the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring.

A sociology major who is on track to graduate in the Spring of 2012, Demps holds a GPA over 3.0 and is one of the mainstays in the "Goodwill Gators" program, which offers student-athletes the opportunity to give back to their communities. Through "Goodwill Gators" and a variety of other charitable initiatives, Demps has visited local schools and hospitals, participated in events for children such as "Swamp Field Trips" and field days, and volunteered his time for an anti-bullying campaign all while balancing a busy class load and the rigors of competing at the highest level of two collegiate sports.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

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